Welcome

Hi, everyone, welcome to our new group! I hope you find this a warm place to get good information on bfing with low supply. I know from personal experience how difficult it is to bf with low supply. It can be a drain on a mom both physically and emotionally.

I have 3 boys, and have combo fed all of them to some extent. I was able to BF DS3 for 9 mos with low supply. I was only able to do that after learning a lot, and getting lots of (mostly online) support.

I'd like this to be a supportive atmosphere; no debating; no bashing of formula, bm, bfing, or ffing. Obviously most of us have to supplement in some amount or fashion.

Your personal stories and experiences, informative links, and helpful tips are most welcome.

Comments (72)

Im glad I found this group tonight. I am almost in tears. Long story short- I've had low supply from the beginning, (wasn't gaining weight, cried after feedings, etc....) He is now 5 months and about 3 weeks ago my milk supply (what little there was) dwindled to nothing. He was so frustrated at the breast. I took dop, fenugreek, more milk plus. I tried oatmeal, nonalcoholic beer, etc.. I thought I was beginning to be ok w/ not BF anymore but today I was at a football game and saw a mother BF her little girl. I quietly began to cry not trying to show it. I am heartbroken. I just pray for my next one it will be different. The disappointment is so overwhelming. Im glad I am not the only one.

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married to DH 6/29/06, DS 6/2/08 and little Asher due 5/15 but came 4/30!

soontobmommy, so sorry for your disappointing experience! A lot of us have been there. Mothering is about more than providing BM, it took me a long time to be able to accept that. You'll get there. And in the meanwhile, you can learn a lot if there should be a "next time."

i just gave birth to twins on 12/21/08 (now 2weeks old) they are both currently in the NICU because they were 7weeks early. I tried pumping and it took a while at first but then I started to get a little more milk until I was getting almost 2oz every time. Then one day it just started decreasing by 1/2oz everytime.. then it went to 1/4oz... after that everytime I would get 1/2oz (if I was lucky), 1/4oz, or nothing at all (except a few drops). It was really important to me to be able to breastfeed... and I understand that a lot of NICU babies dont learn to latch on very well since the hospital is trying to teach them to 'nipple' with a bottle... but it was really important to me to at least provide them with breastmilk even if I couldnt directly breastfeed.

There are members of my family who literally didnt develope breastmilk at all (they went to specialist about it and everything)... and others who only got to do it for a month or so if they were lucky. Many members of my family only got that pre-milk stuff (I forget what its called) and never got the regular milk.

Its upsetting/depressing enough as it is without having to deal with all the NICU nurses and lactational specialist at the hospital getting on my case about it.

Kelle, congrats on your babies! Wow, sounds like hard work, pumping for your babies in the NICU. I'm assuming that you had an early delivery, right? c/s? And babies in the NICU. It all adds up to a lot of stress IMO. and that can definitely have an impact on BM production. Have the LCs been working with you? Did anybody recommend any herbs (like fenugreek) or meds (like domperidone)? Welcome to our group!

Thank you. Yea I went in for a routine Non-Stress Test at 29weeks and they said I was having contraction... So I ended up staying in the hospital for exactly 4weeks... having my babies at 33weeks (7weeks early). I was lucky enough to have a vaginal delievery. It is very stressful having two babies in the NICU... I dont even truly feel like a mother yet since I dont have them with me. And I feel like pumping is the only thing I can truly do for them right now.

Today the Laction Specialist let me borrow one of the hospital's pumps for the next week to give me a little time to get a good hospital-grade pump. I have a storebought pump that doesnt work very well. And I also got a presription for Reglan®(Metoclopramide). I am hoping it works. I am still pumping and hoping for the best.

I have been getting less then 1/4 oz. And my nipples are dry and peeling ... and now starting to scab from where they have cracked open. Its a ring around the nipple pretty much where the cup from the pump fits. Im worried now... should I continue to pump with my nipples in that condition? I have been putting mosterizing balm on before every pump and inbetween pumps as well.

Kelle, Talk to your LC and have her watch you pump. Maybe you need different sized flanges/horns (the part that goes on your breasts). They have larger sizes. What balm are you using? Lansinoh is great, but I've also heard people using olive oil. How often do you pump? For how long each session? What setting do you have the pump set at? You may be using suction that's too hard, or too fast. Don't quit all of a sudden, that would be hard on your body, too. Let us know what the LC tells you. Oh, are you in the hospital or at home? If you're at home, and that's where you're doing your pumping, see if you can pump at the hospital with the LC watching. Have you considered calling La Leche League, to see if there are any other NICU moms in your area that you can talk to for support?

OMG am I ever glad to have found this group! I have a 6 1/2 wk old and we had to start supplementing at 1 1/2 weeks due to a low supply. I have to say my LO's doctor has been a great support to me. I see my doctor next Monday (should have been this one, but AF showed ugh!) I am going to have him check my thyroid level, I read that hypothyroidism can cause a low BM supply, I really hope thats what it is, because I'm getting drained always BFing and then making a bottle after that. Its so depressing at times.